All about aquariums: types, selection and application

Aquarium can be a good decoration for the home. The main reservoir contains fish with plants and decorations. In addition, specialized aquariums are needed for the treatment or breeding of inhabitants.

Aquariums can serve for different purposes. Professionals distinguish many types of reservoirs based on who and what they are inhabited by. Aquariums for their intended purpose can be of several types.

• Common. Used for home, suitable for beginners. In such an aquarium, you can collect many different beautiful fish and plants, snails and other residents. The goal is only in the beauty of the general form.

• Collectible. It is inhabited by fish of different species, but of the same family. For example, you can populate a reservoir with cichlids using flocks of cancer, melanochromis, and scalars.

• Geographical. Recreates the geography of the underwater world. Decorated in ethnic style. Maximum realism is achieved with the help of stickers on the back wall and decorations.

• Decorated open. An aquarium without a cover is decorated with plants, fountains. Scenery may extend beyond water.

• Species. It is inhabited by fish of related species. Designed to study behavior and interaction.

• Biotope. The aquarium is filled with fresh water and populated by tropical fish. A detailed copy of an arbitrary portion of a natural biotope is recreated.It is worth choosing those types of fish that live in one place in complete harmony with each other.

• Dutch. It contains a lot of plants, but there may be no fish at all. The oblong-shaped capacity duplicates the landscape design of the deep sea.

• Paludarium. The emphasis is on a combination of aquatic, terrestrial and marginal plants. You can plant fish or shrimp. It is advisable that the inhabitants of the tank do not eat algae.

• Aquaterrarium. It is inhabited by animals that can live both on land and in water. It is a kind of symbiosis of a terrarium and an aquarium.

• Nano Aquarium. Miniature container with unpretentious and attractive fish and plants.

• Japanese Amano. Decorated in a minimalist style. Reproduces the ecosystem and landscape features of the Amazon.

• Mixed. A subspecies of a home aquarium that combines a variety of species of fish and plants. It can be decorated with any decor.

The aquarium complex can serve not only for decoration, but also for a serious purpose. It is convenient to use small rectangular tanks. They can even be made of plastic.

Special aquariums experts are divided into several varieties.

• Spawning. Designed for breeding fish. Such a container is always sterile. It creates optimal conditions for a particular type of fish.
• Incubators. Needed for the maintenance and development of larvae, eggs.
• Insulators. Jigging tanks are needed to treat diseased fish or adapt new ones.
• Growing up. They look like troughs and are needed for growing fry. Such an aquarium is used after spawning.
• Cultivators. Fodder aquariums allow fish owners to independently breed live food.
• Breeding. Required by specialists to breed new fish species.

Beautiful free-standing or built-in aquariums become central elements in many homes. All of them are divided into types depending on the design and manufacturing technology. Usually expensive asbestos-cement aquariums are mounted in furniture; they can even be laid with tiles or plastered. For the manufacture of using cement, water and asbestos fiber.

Beginners for home use choose more affordable options. Frame and frameless designs are the most popular. Seamless round patterns are considered harmful to the inhabitants due to distortion of space.

Silicate or organic glass is used for the manufacture. The latter is durable and does not affect the composition of the water in the aquarium. Acrylic glass does not tolerate mechanical stress. There is a high risk of scratching it, and over time, transparency may disappear.

For manufacturing, a metal frame is used. Such an aquarium can be of any size. If the container is not used for a long time, it becomes worthless. Sealed putty dries and crumbles, leaks appear.

For manufacturing, plexiglass is used. Reservoirs can be of any shape, which attracts many amateurs. Associated with round structures for keeping gold fish. It is worth noting that containers with curved glasses are prohibited in some regions of Italy since 2006. In such a reservoir, only species of crucian carp can be kept; to other fish, the distorted space destroys the psyche.

The aquarium can be made of different materials, the durability and features of use depend on this. Let's consider the main options.

• Glass. Frame and frameless aquariums are strong and durable, but have an impressive weight. The stand should be as strong and stable as possible.
• Acrylic. Material has become popular relatively recently.Light weight, reliability, a wide range of shapes and a spectacular appearance make acrylic models a favorite among aquarists.
• Plastic. Such material is lightweight and inexpensive, but the benefits end there. A plastic aquarium quickly becomes covered with small scratches and becomes cloudy during use. The volume is limited to 20 liters due to low strength. Plexiglass or plastic can melt due to powerful lighting or heating. Usually used only for a special tank, not the main one.

A rectangular or square aquarium is considered standard. Fans of the unusual can choose beautiful curly designs in the form of vases, guitars, animals and more. For each form there are special supports that are designed for a specific load. Aquariums can be divided into the following types.

• Panoramic. The increased viewing angle is found in decorative aquariums and allows you to enjoy an interesting view. A fish can be seen from anywhere in the room.
• Corner Used in small rooms and at the base have a triangle, hemisphere or trapezoid. They take up little space and look stylish.
• Cylindrical. They require particularly competent placement, otherwise there will be visual distortions. Beautiful vertical aquariums are usually placed on the corresponding pedestal in the middle of the room.

The volume of the aquarium can be absolutely anything - from one liter to several thousand. The size is selected based on the characteristics of the inhabitants of the tank. The number of fish and their needs indicate which house they need. Small aquariums require more attention to the composition and condition of the water. In large, you can create an entire ecosystem, which will be cleaned independently, as in nature.

The aquarium holds up to 25 liters of water. Suitable for keeping a small number of fish. It is possible to contain unpretentious inhabitants, for example, males. For one individual, only 0.5 l is needed, which means that for a small flock, an aquarium of 5 l is quite enough. Ball and rectangle models are popular.

The aquarium holds 25-100 liters of water. Popular models are 70, 80 and 90 liters. The volume is enough to set interesting scenery and contain several schools of different fish with plants. Typically, such aquariums made of glass or plastic are placed in homes.

Such an aquarium holds more than 100 liters. The most popular are models for 120, 140 and 250 liters. Aquariums with large volumes of 400, 600 liters are made to order and often harmoniously fit into the interior of the house. You can make a beautiful decorative partition or column with an aquarium in the middle of the room.

The aquarium can be inhabited by both freshwater and marine inhabitants. Not only species of fish and plants depend on the composition of water, but also equipment that will maintain the necessary conditions. Accordingly, the types of aquariums may be different.

• Freshwater Popular aquariums with lake and river fish, plants. Maintaining such an artificial pond is quite easy. It can be of any size and arbitrary shape.
• Marine. Designed for plants and fish living in salt water. They differ in large volume, because the inhabitants are quite large. It is difficult to care for, because you need to maintain the correct chemical composition of the water.
• Brackish water. An intermediate view for the maintenance of the inhabitants of individual estuaries and bays.

Maintaining the optimal state of the ecosystem is carried out using special devices. The equipment allows you to purify water, supply it with oxygen, maintain the desired temperature and lighting level. To equip the aquarium, you need to purchase a number of devices.

• Lamps. Light is needed to regulate the life of the inhabitants of the aquarium and to comfortably observe the fish.
• Heater. Water should be heated to the desired temperature with a device with a thermostat.
• Thermometer. Allows you to control the temperature of the water.
• Aerator. The compressor distills the air, enriching it with water.
• Aquarium filter. Cleans water from organics.
• Skimmer or flotator. They clean the surface of the water. Both separate the foam and reduce the rate of algae development.
• Pump. Creates an artificial current.
• Timer. It will allow you to feed the fish in time and remove the remnants of food.
• Siphon. Allows you to manually clean the soil in the aquarium.
• Controller for measuring pH. Allows you to monitor the quality of water.

The filter periodically requires the replacement of a check valve. Lighting lamps should work well, so they must also be updated. Lack of light can lead to illnesses in the aquarium inhabitants. When cleaning the aquarium, it is worth inspecting the equipment for malfunctions.

The aquarium daily pleases the owners with a beautiful view. However, the container needs to be cleaned regularly, and this is quite troublesome. You can avoid inconvenience with self-cleaning models. Self-cleaning Avo and My Fun Fish aquariums are the most popular in this area. They have a number of features.

• Avo. LED backlight regulates photosynthesis. Algae that pollute the water simply die. In the morning, the aquarium is highlighted in red, in the evening - white, and at night - in blue. The filter creates a current. The heater maintains + 27 ° C, which is suitable for many types of tropical fish.

The volume is only 15 liters. The dense cover prevents dust from entering.

• My fun fish. More suitable for keeping aquarium plants. Periodically, you need to add fresh water into it. The tube provides the exit of water with sediment, it is simply superseded by fresh liquid.

Lower algae die because they have nothing to eat. You can put a fish inside, but it should be borne in mind that the volume of the tank is only 2 liters.

You still need to wash such aquariums, but much less often. If you do not do this at all, then the walls will begin to turn green and cloudy. Water should be fresh, it should be changed at least once every couple of months.

Fish need a long daylight, about 8-12 hours. Turn on and off artificial lighting at about the same time. You can use automatic sockets with timers to get rid of such hassle. Consider different lamp power based on the number of watts per liter of net volume of water.

• 0.1-0.3 W / L. Plants in such an aquarium will not survive.
• 0.2-0.4 W / l. Essential lighting for inmates who are used to living in the shade at great depths.
• 0.4-0.5 W / l. Suitable for an aquarium with fish and a small amount of algae.
• 0.5-0.8 W / l. An excellent solution for a decorative aquarium with living plants. Most algae feel good in such conditions.
• 0.8-1 W / l. So much light is needed for a container with a tight fit of algae.

It should be noted that the values ​​are approximate. Much depends on the shape and volume of the aquarium, the surface area of ​​the water. The light source must also be selected correctly. Ordinary incandescent lamps not suitable because they give little light and a lot of heat.

Fluorescent light sources are the most suitable. They have an acceptable cost. The main thing is to choose aquarium lamps, they have a wider spectrum of glow. It is worth choosing those that are labeled T5 or T8.

Metal halide lamps are used by professionals for large aquariums. It is noteworthy that they need to be installed at a distance of 30 cm from the surface of the water.This is due to the fact that the lamps emit a large amount of heat. An aquarium with such lighting looks magical, you can see glare in the water column and the shadow of the fish.

LED lights practically do not heat the water and only slightly heat up behind, so they can be placed under the lid of the aquarium. The cost of quality panels is high, but the quality of lighting is worth it. The advantage is low voltage operation, which guarantees safety. It is important to purchase lamps in special stores so that they fit the aquarium according to the spectrum of the glow.

You can use mixed lighting. Usually metal halide lamps simulate a peak in solar activity for a couple of hours, and LED or fluorescent lamps serve for lighting the rest of the time. You just need to duplicate the natural living conditions of fish and plants that live in the aquarium.

Decorative artificial ponds should have their inhabitants. There can be quite a lot of inhabitants of a home aquarium.

• Fishes. For decorative purposes, these families are most often kept: haracin, cyprinidae, pecilia, cichlidae and labyrinth (osphronemic). Fishes are the most common inhabitants of aquariums and many aquarists arrange conditions for their keeping.

• Reptiles. You can keep turtles in the aquarium, the most popular are trionics and rubella. Keeping them with the fish is not worth it. Adults just eat the neighbors. For a turtle it is necessary to equip a place where it can go to land and breathe air.

• Amphibians. The following species usually settle in aquariums: axolotls, spur frogs and newts. The former are larvae of an ambist, but rarely pass into an adult. It is impossible to keep them with fish. She will eat the small inhabitants of the ambistoma, and the large ones will harm her gills.

• Clams. Usually we are talking about snails, the most common are acroluxes, ampullariums. It is possible to contain bivalve mollusks, for example, perilous. They perfectly coexist with fish and help keep the aquarium clean. Snails eat excess food and some organic matter, which leads to rapid water pollution.

• Crustaceans. Crayfish and shrimp can live only in a separate aquarium, without fish. The latter will either become hunters during molting of crustaceans, or they themselves will suffer. Triopses and many shrimp live better in distilled water.

Experts recommend starting with a medium-sized aquarium. This is easy to maintain and arrange. Moreover, you do not have to worry about the fact that the inhabitants will be crowded. The optimum capacity height is 40 cm, that is how the ecosystem will develop as harmoniously as possible.

You can choose any form. Rectangular aquariums are considered standard and most convenient. It is worth abandoning models with convex glasses - they have a bad effect on fish.

The choice of material depends on the size of the tank. Here are some expert advice.

• Glass practically does not scratch and good light transmission.
• The cost of an acrylic aquarium is quite high. It is easy to scratch, but hard to break.
• Plastic models are not suitable for keeping fish on an ongoing basis. However, they will be a good option for temporary jigging.
• When choosing a frame product it is worth paying attention to the quality of airtight putty. Moreover, salt water cannot be poured into such an aquarium.

It is recommended to buy aquariums from well-known manufacturers in specialized pet stores. It is necessary to check the product for leaks before putting fish into it.

Transportation may be needed both when buying an aquarium, and when moving.If the model is large, then it is better to entrust the matter to specialists. Some organizations transport aquariums with water and fish, which is quite convenient. Transportation rules include several items.

• It is important to clearly think through all the nuances in advance. Fish should not be outside the main aquarium for a long time, otherwise the stress will be too great.
• It is necessary to plant fish, remove soil and plants. It is important to keep about 60-70% of old water and pour it back into the aquarium after transportation.
• You need to pack the aquarium with the help of a bubble film, cardboard, foam rubber. If the aquarium is large, it is best to hire packaging specialists.
• It is important to act carefully and quickly when loading and unloading. The aquarium cannot fall or hit in the process.
• The large tank in the car must be secured with straps.

Large and heavy aquariums are transported in trucks. Sometimes you may need a car with a hydraulic lift. The lift will provide a smooth rise and descent of fragile cargo. A small aquarium can be easily transported in a car.

The aquarium allows you to create a corner of peace with high decorative properties. Observing the water inhabitants calms and evokes pleasant emotions. We list the factors for choosing a place to place the aquarium.

• Ease of observation. You need to put the aquarium in the recreation area so that you can watch it. If this is not possible, then try to use a bright design, so that even a cursory glance would be enough to attract attention. Ensure that large furniture does not block the tank.
• Features of care. The aquarium cannot be placed near a battery or a window, otherwise the temperature will be unstable. There should be no objects near the tank that do not tolerate moisture. On top of the tank you need to leave free space in order to be able to work inside the tank.
• Electricity. Water and electrical appliances in combination give a situation of constant danger. All sockets must be protected from moisture. Electrical appliances must be connected securely and not in one place. Aquarium equipment requires grounding.
• Noisiness. The aquarium in the bedroom will make noise. If you still want to put it there, then you should choose quiet modern equipment.
• The load on the floor. A large outdoor aquarium can become potentially dangerous in an apartment. It happens that bearing ceilings in a multi-storey building are simply not able to withstand the load that the tank provides.
• Unusually shaped tanks. Aquarium table can be placed near the sofa and used as a coffee, coffee. The tower will decorate the interior and save space. Aquarium partition can be used for zoning the room.
• The space around. Free space should be on all sides, especially behind the aquarium. This is necessary for the free placement of equipment.

Install the tank on a stand. By default, it reaches 70 cm in height and is suitable for observing fish sitting. If the aquarium is located so that you can only look at it while standing, the cabinet should reach a height of 110-120 cm.

The aquarium is difficult to install and restart after the water has already been poured. Experts advise starting the aquarium correctly from the very beginning.

• The cabinet should be designed for the weight of the aquarium. It is necessary to verify this in advance. With the help of the building level, you need to check for surface distortions. The edges of the container should not hang from the pedestal.
• If you plan on pasting the back wall with a background, then you need to do this at this stage.Glass should be thoroughly degreased, and then decorate.
• On the stand you need to put a stand, a mat. It will absorb vibrations and allow you to evenly distribute the load.
• Laying the soil requires its preliminary cleaning. It is better to do this under running water so that the litter is washed under pressure. The filler can be laid unevenly. If it is planned to plant live algae, the layer should be at least 6-8 cm.
• It should be checked with a building level how flat the tank is. If necessary, it is worth adjusting the position. Skewing will cause an increased load on the wall, which will cause a leak.
• Water must be infused slowly, without eroding the soil. The liquid should be previously defended or add a cleaning agent from the pet store to it. You can use a hose to fill the water.
• Pour water in such a way as to leave a couple of centimeters on top. This space will eventually take up the scenery.
• It is worth adding a special conditioner to the water so that chlorine comes out.

It's time to check the equipment. The heater is installed near the filter where there is current. This is necessary for uniform heating. The heater must be immersed in water completely, you can not bury the device in the filler. Set the desired heating temperature and check the result with a thermometer.

A filter with a compressor is installed at the very bottom where dirt accumulates. If aeration is needed, it is necessary, on the contrary, to lift the device closer to the surface. Before installation, you should familiarize yourself with the manufacturer's recommendations. During the first 2-3 hours, air will come out of the filter, this is normal.

When connecting an external filter, proceed according to the instructions. Water intake and discharge pipes must be installed at different ends of the tank. So the water will not stagnate. It is better to place the fence near the bottom and be sure to equip it with a prefilter. Otherwise, a resident of the aquarium may get into the tube.

Setting the scenery requires preparation. All driftwood and locks need to be washed and boiled. If a piece of wood pops up, you need to soak it in water before diving into the aquarium. In large tanks under heavy decorations you need to put foam. All decorative elements must be carefully fixed.

You can plant fish at least 3-4 days after setting the scenery. Water during this period will warm up and purify. At this time, it is worth adding a powder or liquid that will populate the beneficial bacteria. They will settle in the soil and the filter, they will purify the water during the entire period of operation.

The aquarium should please with its view. Decor is of great importance for creating a harmonious look.

• As the soil, you can use gravel, sand, pebbles. In a large aquarium, the bottom can be laid out with stones. In pet stores there are special decorative pebbles made of glass that look especially interesting. There is lava for decoration, these are also artificial stones.
• Some jewelry can be assembled by yourself. Suitable alder cones, snags and shells. Previously, everything should be washed and boiled.
• You can make an interesting sandfall yourself. Sand should be selected empirically so that it does not fly around the aquarium.

In pet stores you can buy artificial plants and decorations for the aquarium, with the help of which amazing compositions are created. Today, there are several popular tank design styles.

• Dutch. Lush and sad algae become the center of the composition. About 12 plant species are used. Everything is planted in groups by color and growth rate. Plants should be trimmed and fed regularly.
• Natural. Simulates the landscape of a particular area. The composition, you can take the lake, mountains, forest, ocean. Use asymmetric forms and at least 5 plant species.
• Rock garden. Pebbles of a similar appearance and shape are laid at the bottom. The style is rarely used by beginners.
• Pseudo-natural. It is created by combining soil, plants and fish. Novice owners use just this style of design.
• Pseudo-Sea. Shells and a shell rock are used instead of usual soil. You can pick up corals of a suitable size. The main thing is to imitate the bottom of the sea or ocean as realistically as possible. The name of the style is due to the fact that the water in the aquarium is fresh.
• Collection. More than 15 species of algae are planted in the aquarium. Unlike the Dutch style in this, you can deviate from the rules and not adhere to the principles of grouping.

Using the aquarium for decorative purposes requires a responsible approach. Each owner should remember a few rules.

• Stability. You can’t move the aquarium with water even a centimeter. Be sure to pre-merge most. Otherwise, a leak or even a crack may appear.
• Feeding. This procedure is performed once a day, and the first time you need to use a timer. The portion should be eaten in 5-7 minutes, the remains should be removed. A large amount of residual food will rot and lead to spoilage of water and diseases of the inhabitants.
• Lighting mode. Living plants need lamps for 10-12 hours, and if there are none, then daylight hours are reduced to 8-9 hours. In this case, you need to use only high-quality lamps that do not heat water.
• Temperature. The temperature controller is set to the desired position once and should work continuously. Every day you need to check the temperature of the water with a thermometer. Before you remove the device from the aquarium, you must disconnect it from the power supply.
• Filtration. Water purification equipment should work around the clock. The maximum allowable break is 3 hours. Otherwise, fish and plants may begin to die due to microclimate disturbances.
• The composition of the water. Stiffness and acidity should be monitored. If necessary, it is important to immediately adjust the composition of the water, otherwise all the inhabitants will begin to get sick. Activated carbon can be used to remove heavy salts.
• Compatibility. It is important to select fish and algae so that they fit each other according to their living conditions. Moreover, the combination of predators and carnivores will lead to the fact that the former begin to hunt and eat the latter.
• Free space. Each inhabitant of the aquarium needs a certain amount of space for a comfortable life. Overpopulation will lead to the activation of natural selection. Stronger fish will simply kill those who are weaker.

Cleaning the aquarium requires special attention from the owners. About 10-20% of water should be renewed every week. Once every two weeks, it is necessary to rinse the filters under running water so that dirt does not accumulate inside. Household chemicals for washing the tank and decorations should not be used. The soil is cleaned by a siphon, and a green coating can be removed from the walls with a scraper.

Separately, it is worth paying attention to plants. Only proper lighting contributes to the development of algae. CO2 and fertilizer play smaller roles. Gas consumption is directly dependent on the light that enters. The combination of the right amount of lighting, fertilizer and CO2 leads to a lush and beautiful growth of greenery. Air bubbles on the leaves indicate that the plants are in perfect order.

In the next video you will find useful tips for arranging and maintaining the aquarium for beginners.